Hard to see the marks on the plate:

Using an extra light can help show progress on the plate.

If the color shows up too dark in the print on the area where the glitter was applied:

Add a layer of glossy gel medium on top of the glitter area.

If needed, apply another layer of gel medium once dried.

If ink does not get repelled from non-image areas:

Depending on your drawing materials, you may find the cola bath works best at some duration from 30 secs to 5 mins. Experiment with different durations in the cola. The image will fade if left in too long, though.

Recommended time: 

• Ballpoint Pen: 0.5 ~ 3 mins

• Sharpie: 1 ~ 3 mins

• Crayon: 3 ~ 5 mins

If the ink is too thick to apply to the plate:

Add a few drops of vegetable oil or baby oil to the ink. Baby oil is thinner than vegetable oil so the exact amounts may vary.

Add a little bit at a time until the consistency becomes desired.

Traditionally, linseed oil is used as an ink thinner.

If the ink is too thin and gets removed easily while wiping the plate:

Add magnesium carbonate or baby powder to the ink and mix thoroughly. 

Add a little bit at a time until the consistency becomes desired.

Traditionally, magnesium carbonate is used as an ink thickener.

If the oil paint is too thin to be wiped:

Leave some oil paint out for at least 12 hours on multiple sheets of newsprint.

Excess oil is soaked up by the newsprint. Add magnesium carbonate or baby powder if the paint is still too thin.

If too much ink was wiped away in a certain area of the image:

Apply a little bit of ink with the stiff brush on the over-inked area.

Wipe with a sheet of newsprint or phonebook page without using the wiping block.

If the image has too much of a fuzzy texture after wiping the plate with newsprint:

Roll a paper towel into a small ball and rub it on the surface of the plate very lightly, barely applying pressure. 

Circular motion works best.

The paper is too wet:

Remove a sheet of paper from the wet stack and put it between dry newsprint.

Blot the paper with the newsprint to remove excess moisture.

The paper gets wrinkled from the press:

Release the pasta maker pressure down one step. 

Add a dry sheet of paper to fine-tune the pressure level. 

The extra dry paper can be placed under the damp paper.

Printmaking paper does not take ink well:

Leave the printmaking paper in the water tub instead of storing it in the plastic folder. 

SOAKING TIME 

• Fabriano: 40-50 mins

• Stonehenge: 10-20 mins

• BFK Rives: 40-50 mins